Battle of Sablat

The Battle of Sablat was fought on 10 June 1619 during the Thirty Years' War. The battle resulted in the rout of the Protestant Bohemian general Ernst von Mansfeld's army by the Catholic German army.

Background
In March 1619, Holy Roman Emperor Matthias I died, leading to the hardline Catholic king of Bohemia Ferdinand of Styria ascending to the throne. Rather than lay down their arms and recognize Ferdinand as king, the Bohemian Protestants decided to denounce him and risk open war, instead offering their throne to Elector Frederick V of Palatinate.

Battle
In May 1619, the main Protestant army under Count Jindrich Matyas Thurn marched on Vienna and put the city under siege despite lacking siege weapons. These successes were not to last, as, on 10 June 1619, the Catholic commander, the Count of Bucquoy, routed Ernst von Mansfeld's 3,200-strong contingent at Sablat in southern Bohemia. This cut off communications between Prague and Thurn's besieging army, forcing them to withdraw. The Imperials also captured Mansfeld's correspondence, revealing Duke Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy's dealings with the Bohemians, Dutch, Venetians, and English. Embarrassed and aware that he would not be elected King of Bohemia, Charles Emmanuel ended his support for the rebels. On 28 August 1619, Ferdinand of Bohemia was formally elected Holy Roman Emperor.